Coordinated bomb release means



May 16, 1950 T. D. CASTOR ET AL 2,507,767

COORDINATED BOMB RELEASE MEANS Filed March 2, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l THOMAS DAVIS CASF WILLIAM ADILLMAN, WENDELL B FEHPING," g] m CHARLES HENRY ST RANDBERG f I I ISnventors attornegs y 6, 1950 T. D. cAsToR ET AL 2,507,767

COORDINATED BOMB RELEASE MEANS Filed March 2, 1942 5 SheefiS-Sheet 2 THOMAS DAVIS CASTOR WILLEAM A. DILLMAN,

WENDELL B. FEHRING, q ARLEs HENRY STRANDEERG 3nnentors May 16, 1950 T. D. CASTOR ET AL ,7 7

COORDINATED BOMB RELEASE MEANS Filed March 2, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l I INVE NTOIVZS THOMAS DAVIS CASTOR, WILLIAM ADILLMAN, WENDELL a :EHRINQ CHARLES HENRYSTRANDBERG (lttornegs May 16, 1950 T. D. CASTOR ETAL ,7

COORDINATED BOMB RELEASE MEANS Filed. March 2, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 THOMAS DAVIS CASTOR, WILLIAM A. DILLMAN, 1 W WENDELL B. FEHRING,

CH QRLES HENRY STRANDBERG attorneys May 16, 1950 T. D. CASTOR ETAL 2,507,767

COORDINATED BOMB RELEASE MEANS Filed March 2, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORS moms DAVIS cAsToR, w A DILLMAN, WEINDELL 8 Emma, CHARLES HENRY STQANDBERE ig- ATTORNS Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT COORDINATED BOMB RELEASE MEANS Application March 2, 1942, Serial No. 432,970

26 Claims. 1

The operation of a bomb rack in a modern airplane, where the bombs are carried Wholly within an internal, door-closed bomb bay, requires careful coordination to insure, on the one hand, that the doors can be nearly instantaneously opened, so that the bombs can all be quickly dropped in an emergency without encountering closed bomb bay doors, and, on the other hand, that the bomb bay doors are opened in an orderly, controlled manner in advance of normal operation of the bomb rack, whether the rack is intended then to be discharged by selective release or by salvo release. These two aims are, in a sense, incompatible, in that for normal release of the bombs, where the bomb bay doors can be opened somewhat in advance of the planes reaching its objective, it is preferred to swing the doors open under run control throughout the opening period, which ordinarily takes an ap preciable period of time, yet on the other hand, if it is necessary to drop the bombs in an emergency, it is imperative that the doors be opened far more quickly, in fact substantially instantaneously, so that the bombs, the first of which is released substantially simultaneously with the release of the doors, can fall freethrough the doors, and others, following immediately after, will fall through as well without striking the doors. It is also necessary, "for aerodynamic reasons, that the doors, when opened, whether under full control or in an emergency, be capable of being reclosed in flight with a minimum of delay. It is to the solution of such problems that the present invention is directed, and it incorporates in efi'ect a coordinating unit, interposed between a bombardier's control for the doors and the bomb rack, and the doors and bomb rack themselves, which coordinating unit is operated according to whether the 'bombardiers controls are actuated for controlled release or for emergency release. Means are also incorporated for effecting closure of the doors, after the bombs have been released or the necessity therefor has passed, and in particular there are incorporated special means to enable closure of the doors after emergency release. 7 The present controls, referred to above, and the present device, are not devised for the purpose of coordinating action 'as between two separate stations on the aircraft, for instance the bcmbardiers and the pilots stations, so thatr'elease can be effected at either such station. Primarily the present invention is directed along other lines, to effect coordination as between two types "of release from any single station. However, it is to be understood that this station may be the bombardier's station, the pilots station, or any other station aboard the aircraft, and that, by separate means, such, for instance, as is shown in a copending application of Delbert S. Lewis and Erving .F. Lewis, Serial No. 496,112 July 26, 1943, now Patent Number 2,376,157, the controls may be duplicated at two or more -stations, and can be coordinated for operation from any one of those stations. While, therefore, the present invention will assume that the control'is located at the boinbardi'ers station, it will be borne in mind that this may be at any selected station, and may be otherwise duplicated and coordinated with other similar controls.

In certain of the views the arrangement is diagrammatically shown, and it will be understood that while no attempt has been made to show more than a single form of the invention, its principles may, nevertheless, be incorporated in various forms within the true intendment of the invention as expressed in the following specification and claims.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic isometric View in shadow, illustrating the manner of incorporating the apparatus in an airplane.

Figure 2 is an elevation View, with parts broken away, illustrating the relative arrangement of the controls, and Figure 3 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an axial section, and Figure 5 an elevation view, with parts broken away, but showing parts in different positions, these two views illustrating a releasable jack for operating the bomb bay door.

Figure 6 is an axial section horizontally through the coordinating unit.

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the gear mechahism within the coordinating unit, and Figures 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic exploded representations of the same gearing in various remtive positions. v

In Figure 1 can be identified the airplanes supporting wings W, engine nacelles N, andfusel'age F. In an appropriate bomb bay within the fuselage racks R and release mechanism Rl support the bombs, represented at B. Doors I) (usually plural, but shown here as a single door) close the bomb bay during normal flight, but open undercontrol of a jack or jacks J, operated by motor M, prior to releaseof bombs, and after release of bombs the jack closes the doors, the motor being reversible. Controls DI for the door and BI for operation or control of the bombrarik are located at the bombardiers station in the nose of the fuselage. A third control, for use as an emergency control, is located at E, at the bombardiers station, and a duplicate emergency release control may be located at P, conveniently to the pilot.

Such arrangements, except the emergency control E, are, in general, normal. In their normal operation some appreciable delay ensues from the time opening of the doors D is initiated until the first bomb is dropped. By appropriate movement of control handle DI the motor M is energized in one sense by closure of the normally open switch D3 through the cam D4 (Figure 2) the jack J is thereby extended to open and to hold open the doors; upon and by completion of the opening of the doors, through known mechanism, not shown, a lock pin L is withdrawn,

which may be a simple linkage and lever connec tion direct to door D, for instance, from the pulley R2 of the release mechanism RI, and now. but not before, the bombs B can be released, or the bomb rack can be conditioned for release, by appropriate movement of the bomb release lever BI from its safe position, at the right in Figure 2, to the intermediate selective position or to the left-hand salvo position. The time lapse is principally in running out the jack J, which may consume a period somewhat less than a minute.

Innormal operation this time lapse is immaterial. The bombardier knows, more than a minute before arriving at his objective, that he is approaching it, and opens the doors sufficiently in advance of his arrival that he need no longer give thought to them, but concentrates on releasing the bombsat the proper instant. Once released, or the necessity for release having passed, he needs only to restore the bomb release lever BI to safef position, and to close the doors by return of the door. control handle DI to its'initial position, whereupon the motor M is reenergized in the reverse sense through closing of the switch D5, and the jack J is screwed in. The bombardier knows that the interceptor finger D2 on the handle DI will engage the bomb release lever BI to restore the latter to safe position automatically by return of the door control handle DI to door-closing position, at the right in Figure 2.

. In emergencies, however, the time lapse for opening the bomb door as described might be fatal. The bombardier, and, for that matter, the pilot also, must be able in a matter of a few seconds to open the doors to permit the bombs to fall freely and to release all the bombs. The bombardier must not be required, in such an emergency, to discriminate as between a normal control at one place and an emergency release at another place, but must have available a single emergency release control disposed conveniently to the normal controls. It must not be encumbered with safeguards or complications, such asrequire interruption of the movement of the normal release lever BI at the selective position, and a different movement before it can continue its'movement to the salvo position. Instead, the emergency release control, the single hand wheel E, must be operable by one smooth, rapid, continuous movement from a normal safe position to a salvo position, and this single pulley and movement must effect not only the release of all the bombs B, but also the previous and substantially instantaneous opening of the doors D.

"In the present invention the quick opening of the bomb bay doors D is accomplished by disconnection of the doors D from that which holds them shut-for instance, by disconnecting the doors in effect, if not in fact, from the lower ends of the jacks J, so they may swing open at once by gravity. The immediate emergency past, it is very desirable to lessenthe drag and the stresses which arise from the downwardly swung doors, by swinging and holding them shut. To this end means are provided to restore the inter rupted connection between the jack J and the door D, and to swing the door shut by screwing up the jack, and such means are conveniently controlled by the same handle 'DI that effects like control of the doors in normal operation.

It will be seen that two more or less independent controls DI and BI are employed for normal operation of two independent mechanisms, the doors and the bomb racks, respectively. For emergency operation a single control must, in a coordinated manner, effect release operation'of both such mechanisms. To enable this operation of two mechanisms now by two controls, and again by one control, in the manner explained, a coordinating unit U is interposed between the two mechanisms and the several controls therefor. This unit is the heart of the present invention. The particular manner by which the doors are released for emergency opening independently of the normally used actuating means, such as jack J, may vary. Inthe illustrated arrangement of release the action is one of uncoupling, but other forms of release may be employed. Hence, as herein used, the term release as applied to the emergency opening of the door includes all manner of mecha nisms or operations by which the door may be opened or its opening permitted independently of the normally used door operating means and whether by gravity or by rapid-acting positive drive means, unless otherwise clearly implied by the context.

Only bearing in mind that the door control handle DI must move, at least to an intermediate position (its full-line position in Figure 2) to effect opening of the doors D, and that this door opening movement is accomplished by energization of the reversible motor M, in one sense, by closure of the normally open switch D3 after opening of the door-closing switch D5, and through electric circuits which have been omitted to avoid confusion, further consideration. of this door control handle can be largely omitted. It will be evident that moving this handle DI to the salvo position, at the left of Figure 2, after release of the latch DE by depression of the handles outer end, will not affect energization of the motor M, for the motor had already been energized; it will also be evident that as the handle DI approaches its right-hand position the door-opening switch D3 will be returned to its normal open position by the usual spring built into such switch mechanism, which is conventional, and thereafter the door-closing switch D5 is depressed and closed. None of these operations require any mechanical connections from the bombardier's station to the bomb rack, the bomb rack doors, or the coordinating unit. It will be evident that limit switches can stop the motor when the appropriate limit of movement is reached, in a known manner.

Assuming, then, that the door control handle DI has been properly and previously moved out of the way, the bomb release lever BI can be moved from its full-line safe position of Figgeomorure" 2- to the intermediate "selective" position, where its stop B2 (Figure 3) engages the fixed stop' B3 (Figure 2"); This prevents unintentional movementto the salvopositionat the left, for the sleeve B4 must be rotated to disengage the stops B2 and B3 to'permitmovement of- B-I to the left past the selective position. These or equivalent arrangements are" normal and known.

Movement of BI from safe position to the selective" position entrains rotation of the'pulley I of the" coordinating unit U ina counterclockwise sense as seen in Figure 1: thisaction results from rotation of the connected pulley B5 by the lever BI, and consequent rotation of the pulley l through the cables 136 which connect these two pulleys. A's viewed in Figure 6', the pulley I is fast upon a shaft I carrying a gear H, which is part of a differential gear mechanism. Idler gears I2-journal'ed in a rotative yoke I3 mesh with a gear 2I upon a short shaft 20, carrying a gear 2. The yoke I3;hasasleeve M which is journaled within a fixed housing U2, and the sleeve I 4 carries a multiple-grooved pulley 4, each groove receiving a cable R3 which connects to a different bomb rack" by way of the pulley R2 of each individual rack. If the gear 2 is held against rotation the pulley 4 is rotated by rotation of the pulley f: if the pulley I' is held against rotation the pulley 4 is rotated byrotation of the gear 2, which occurs; as will shortly be, made clear, by rotation of pulley 3.

During normal operation rotation of the pulley I causes rotation of the pulley 4', because, by means tobe described, the gear 2 at such times is held against rotation. It is clear, then, that normal movement of' the bomb control lever BI from safe position to "selective or to salvo position entra-ins movement, through pulleys I and 4, of the pulley-R2 of the release" mechanism, as though there were no coordinating unit U; in so doing there isnooperationof the emergency door release or emergency bomb release. Of course, before rotation of the pulley R2 can occur, the door opening operation must have been completed towithdraw the lock pin L, or its equivalent,- but it has been assumed above that this has'been done.

For normal return of parts to safe position it is onlynecessary to returnthe lever BI' to "safe" position, and-this; operating reversely, returns the release mechanism Rl to safe position through the similarly acting pulleys" I and 4. The doors D are closed by moving the handleDi to therighthand position in Figure 2, thereby closing the reversing switch D5, and in time screwing up the jack J.

Inemergency operation; initiated by rotation of the hand wheel E; with the lever-BI and handle D1" intheir"safe" and closed; or' right positions, respectively, the pulley I" can not rotate, hence if gear 2 is rotated it will effect rotation of pulley 4 independently of any rotation of" pulley- I-. The wheel E carries a pulley E'I, connected by cables E2 to rotate similarlya pulley 3 at the coordinating unit. This pulley, on a shaft" 30; rotates a pinion 3I-, meshing with a gear 33. Rotative with the gear 33 are-the gears 32 and 35'. The gear 32 meshes with the gear 2, previously described, and thegear 35 meshes with the gear St on the short shaft 50, whereon is'the pulley 5.

Now, if the pulley 3 is rotated. by rotation of the emergency release wheel E, gear 2' and pulley 4 willbe rotated through gears 31, 3'3, and 32, and pulley is rotated through gears 3.I', 33, 35, and 51*. It only remains to coordinate and time the the pulleys I-, 3 4', and 5. Pulley I is an operating member, since it is connected to and moved by a control, BI, and when the latter is moved, such movement is transmitted to the pulley I at the coordinating unit. Pulley 3 is also an operating member, being connected to and moved by acontrol, E, and when the-latter is moved its movement-is transmitted to the pulley 3 at the coordinating'unit. On-the other hand, the pulley 4 may be termed an actuator, since, when it is actuated through the coordinating unit, it actuates in turn the bomb rack release device R2. The pulley 5 is also an actuator, and when it is actuated through the'coordinating unit it in turn actuates thejack release device.

Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10-are diagrams drawn for the particular purpose of'illustrating the cycle of emergency operation, so'the differential gear connection between the pulleys I and 4 is omitted, and thepulley 4 is considered as though fast upon the same shaft as the gear 2. The effect, during emergency operation, is theequivalent of this, as has already been explained. In Figures 7 and 8 the parts are shown in the positions they would occupy with the doors Dclosed and the bomb release mechanism safe. The arrows show the sense of movement which will ensue upon rotation of the pulley 3 and pinion 3! in response to rotationof the emergency release wheel E.

In-suchevent the pulley 3' rotates in the direction of itsarrow in Figures 7 and 8, and the pinion 3-I rotates likewise,- causing rotation of the gear 33' as shown. Since the partial gears 32 and 35 are united" to the gear 33, they too rotate as shown. Such rotation of the gear 32 produces noimmediate efi'ect, because of its concentric toothless arc 32a, which looks in the matching depression 2a of the gear 2. It follows that the pulley 4 cannot move, hence the release mechanism RI can not be actuated. On the other hand, such rotation of the gear Ski-produces immediaterotation of the gear 5I' and of the pulley 5, hence, through cable 52- the jack release mechanism, still to be described, is actuated, and the door is in effect immediately and completely released, and swings open by gravity. By new parts have reached" the positions of Figure 9.

Upon reaching the positions of Figure 9 the gears 35 and BI unmesh and lock, for as rotation of the pulley? and gears 32, 33', and35 continues as before, the concentric toothless arc 35a engages the matching depression 5Ia, of gear 5!. The actuation of the jack release mechanism, therefore, ceases. At this time the teeth of gear 32 mesh with the teeth of heretofore non-rotative gear' 2; and initiate its rotation, hence rotation also of the pulley 4, in the direction of their arrows in Figure 9. Rotation of pulley 4 acts upon the release mechanism RI, which by now is'rel'eased by withdrawal of the lock L due to opening of. the. doors, and salvo release of the bombs is efiected'through: the: open doorway.

The final positions of the? parts of the coordinating" unit is shown in Figure 10, and the arrows show the senses in which the gears had rotated just prior to reaching these positions.

The flat spots 2b and 3212 (see Figure 9) ,meet to stop rotation of the gears. Other stop means might be employed, as will readily be apparent.

While it is desirable to follow through the resetting of the coordinating unit, including reconnection of the jack to the door, and closure of the door, it is first necessary to explain the mechanism connecting the jack and the door, shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The jack J includes three telescoping tubes, an outer tube 60, an intermediate tube BI, and an externally screw-threaded tube 6'2 within tube 6 I The latter tube constitutes a guide, within which is slidable a slide 63 at the upper end of a rod 64, the latter carrying at its lower end a fitting S5 arranged for connection to the door D. The connection to the door prevents rotation of the parts 65, 64, and 63, and by suitble sliding interconnection rotation of the threaded tube 62 may likewise be prevented. A nut 6 is threaded upon the screw 62, and is rotatable from the motor M through the tube SI and its fitting at $6. This is the normal way of opening and closing the door D, namely, by energizing the motor M in one sense to rotate tube BI and nut .6 and run down the screw 82 within the nut, and to reverse the motor and consequently the rotation of nut 6 to run up the screw; the door-fitting t $5 is, during such operation, secured to move with the lower end of the screw 62. The outer tube 60, being fast to the fitting 65, moves up and down with the latter, and, in the operation described, with the screw.

The connection between the fitting 65 and the screw 62 is actually releasable at will, and is released for emergency operation. The screw carries a head 1, recessed at 10 to receive springheld latches H carried by and guided for movement in the fitting 65 transversely of the length of rod 64. A cam 12, normally disposedin the dash-line position of Figure 5, is carried upon a shaft 13 journaled in the fitting 65, and when rotated this cam 12 moves the latches H apart to disengage them from their notches IE! to free the fitting $5 from the head I and screw 62. Such rotation of cam 12 is accomplished by the cable 52 through the coordinating unit, as previously explained. When this action occurs the fitting E5 and, of course, the door D, drop freely, draw ing rod 64 downward through tube 62 and leaving the screw jack still elevated. The slide 63 on the upper end of rod 64, by its contact with the lower end of the guide 62, and the engagement between the upper end of tube 69 and the lower end of tube 6|, limit this downward movement, and the parts between fitting 65 and the screw 62 are retained in guiding engagement, for return movement.

After such emergency operation, to restore parts to their normal position, the coordinating unit is reset by reverse operation of the hand wheel E, then the screw 62 is run down, by rotation of the nut 6 through the motor M, controlled by the door operating handle Di, until the cam faces 14 of the head I engage and force outwardly the latches l I eventually to snap back into engagement with the recesses 10. Direct connection between the fitting 65 and the screw being thus restored, the door can be drawn shut in the normal way, by reverse operation of the motor M under control of the handle DI. In resetting the coordinating unit, it can be seen that, starting with :parts in the positions of Figure 10, and reversing the sense of rotation of the pulley 3, finally all parts can be returned to their positionsof Figure 8. This, followed by the lease mechanism, a bomb bay door, means to open the door, a normal bomb release control operatively connected to. eiTect release or to condition for release the bomb rack release mechanism, an emergency control operatively connected to the door opening means to release the door from the door-opening means, and also operatively connected to the bomb rack release mechanism, and a coordinating drive transmitting unit operatively interposed between the normal bomb release control and the emergency control on the one hand and the door opening means and thebomb rack release mechanism on the other hand, to efiect normal operation of the bomb rack release mechanism by actuation of the normal bomb rack control, and abnormal, substantially instantaneous operation of the-bomb rack-re-.

lease mechanism and opening of the door ,by actuation of the emergency control.

2. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with bomb rack release mechanism and a bomb bay door, actuating means for said door and operable to hold the door closed, an emergency control operatively connected to said door actuating means and operable to release the door therefrom for emergency opening of the door, a normal bomb release control, and differential means interconnecting the normal bomb release control with the emergency control, for operation of the bomb rack release mechanism selectively by either of such interconnected controls, but without operation of the door actuating means when the normal bomb release control is operated. I

3. Bomb dropping mechanism foraircraft including, in combination with bomb rack release mechanism and a bomb baydoor, operating means for said door and operable to hold the door normally closed, an emergency control operatively connected to said door operating means and operable to release the door therefrom for emergency opening of the door, a normal bomb release control, differential means interconnecting the normal bomb release control with the emergency control, for operation of the bomb rack release mechanism selectively by either of such interconnected controls, but without opera tion of the door operating means when the normal bomb release control is operated, and timing means operatively interconnected between the door operating means and the bomb rack release mechanism and operated bysaid emergency control to actuate said door operating means for opening of the door immediately in advance of the operation of the bomb rack release mechanism. Y

4. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with bomb rack release mechanism and a bomb bay door, means nor mally operable through a predetermined period for opening said door, a single emergency control and means connecting the same to said door opening means and operable to release the door from said operating means for emergeney and substantially immediate opening of the door, and to the bomb rack release mechanism, and sequence-determining means operatively interconnected between the door actuating means and the bomb rack release mechanism, and operated by said single emergency control first to effect operation of the door opening means to open the door, and immediately thereafter to effect operation of the bomb rack release mechanism.

5. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combinationwith the bomb rack release mechanism, a bomb'bay door, quick-operating means to enable opening of the door, and normal operating means arranged for opening and-closing of said door, a normal door-operating control operatively connected to energize and to control the sense of operation of the normal dooroperating means, a normal bomb release control operatively connected to effect release orto condition for release the bomb rack release mechanism, means .to prevent release of bombs by said normal bomb release control prior to opening of the door, an emergency controloperatively connected to the quick-operating door opening means for instantaneous release of the door from its normal operatingmeans, andzalso operatively connected to the bomb rack release mechanism, to release the door and the bombs in immediate sequence, and ,a coordinating drive transmitting unit operatively interposed between the normal bomb release control and the emergency control on the one hand and the quickoperating means and the bomb rack release mechanism on the other hand, to effect normal operation of the bomb rack release mechanism byactuation of the normal bomb rack control, and abnormal, substantiallyinstantaneous operation of the bomb rack release mechanism and opening of the door by actuation of the emergency control. :35

6. In combination with a bomb rack within the bomb bay of an aircraft,adoor normally closing the bomb bay, normal operating meansarran'ged for opening and closing of the door, aznormal control for said operating means for opening the door in advance of therelease of'bombs, a normal bomb release control, an emergency release means for the door, an emergency control operatively connected to the door emergency release means and also to the bomb rack, and drive transmitting means operatively interposed :between the normal bomb. release control, the emergency control, the emergency doorlreleasemeans, and the bomb rack, and operable to efiect independent operation of the bomb rack upon operation of the normal bomb release and emergency controls, respectively, and to effect entrained, immediately sequential release of the emergency door release means and operation of .the bomb rack, respectively, upon operation of the emergency control alone.

7. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combinationwith bomb rack release mechanism, a bomb bay door, normal door-operating means operable for opening and closing of said door, means to enable emergency opening of the door, two normal controls, one for the'bomb 'rack release mechanism and one operatively connected to the normal door operating means, an emergency control for both the means to enable emergency opening of the door and the bombrack release mechanism, and a coordinating drive unit having a first actuator operatively connected to the bomb rack release mechanism, a second actuator operatively connected to the means to enable emergency opening of the door, a first or normal operating member operatively connected 'to' the normal bomb release control, and a second or emergency operating member operatively connectedto the emergency release control, said coordinating drive transmitting unit including also selector mechanism operatively connecting its normal operating member to its first actuator for normal operation of the bomb rack release mechanism by the normal bomb release control, without actuation of the second actuator, and after :opening of the door by normal operation of the normal doorcontrol, and further connecting its emergency operating member to its first and second actuators for immediately sequential operation of the means to enable emergency opening of the'door and then of the bomb rack release mechanism by the emergency control, without operation of either normal control.

8. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with door-operating means, and bomb rack release mechanism, a nor- I mal bomb-release control, an emergency control, and coordinating drive transmitting means ineluding means operatively connecting the door operating means to the emergency control, and means providing a constant connection between the bomb rack release mechanism andthe normal bomb-release control, and between the bomb rack release mechanism and the emergency control, operable by selective operation of said normal bomb-release control or said emergency control to effect actuation of the bomb rack release mechanism.

9. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with three devices to be operated, namely, normal door-operating means, quick-operating means operable to effect-emergency opening of a door, and bomb rack release means; three controls, namely, a normal dooroperating control, a normal bomb-release control, and an emergencycontrol; means operatively connecting the normal door-operating means only tothe normal door-operating control, and coordinating transmission means including means operatively connecting said quick operating meansv only to the emergency control, and iiieluding also means providing a constant connection between the bomb rack release means and the normal bomb-release control, and between the bomb rack release means and the emergency control, operable by alternative operation of said normal boi'rib-re1ea se control or said emergency control to effect actuation of the bomb rack release means.

.10. ,Bombdropping mechanism for ailc'ra'fti'ii- .cl'uding', incombination with three devices to be operated, namely, normal door-operating means,

.means to enable emergency opening of, a door, and

bomb rack release means three controls, namely, a normal door-operating control, a normal bombreleasecontroLand an emergency control; means connecting the normal dooreoper'ating'f means only to the normal door-operating control; and coordinating transmission means including means operatively connecting the means to enable emergency opening of the door only to the emergency control, and the bomb crack release vmechanism to each of the normal bomb-release control and the emergency control, the coordinating transmission means" further including, means i to block operation .of the means to enableje'rnereludin in combination with three devices to be operated, namely, normal door'eoperating meas,

means to' enable emergencyopening of a door,

and bomb rack release mechanism; three controls, namely, a normai door-operating'jcontrol,

11 a normal bomb-release control, and an emergency control; means connecting the normal door-operating means only to the normal dooroperating control; and coordinating transmission means including means operatively connecting the means to enable emergency opening of the door only to the emergency control, and the bomb rack release mechanism to each of the normal bomb-release control and the emergency control, the coordinating drive transmission means further including difierential-gear mechanism and coacting irreversible gearing, said coordinating transmission means being operable to block operation of the means to enable emergency opening of the door and to effect operation of the bomb rack release mechanism by operation of the normal bomb-release control.

12. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with three devices to be operated, namely, normal door-operating means, means to enable emergency opening of a door, and bomb rack release mechanism; three controls, namely, a normal door-operating control, a normal bomb-release control, and an emergency control; means connecting the normal door-operating means only to the normal dooroperating control, and coordinating transmission means including means operatively connecting the means to enable emergency opening of the door only to the emergency control, and the bomb rack release mechanism to each of the normal bomb-release control and the emergency control, the coordinating transmission means further including timing means between the emergency control and each of the means to enable emergency opening of the door and the bomb rack release mechanism to effect operation of the means to enable emergency opening of the door prior to operation of the bomb rack release mechanism, and to effect operation of the latter immediately following operation of the means to enable emergency opening of the door.

13. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with bomb rack release mechanism and a bomb bay door, means to enable opening of said door, three controls, namely, a door control operatively connected to the means to enable opening of the door for normal opening of the door, a bomb release control, and an emergency, control; and a coordinating drive transmitting unit including a first actuator operatively connected to the means to enable opening of the door for emergency opening of the door, a second actuator operatively connected to the bomb rack release mechanism, a first operating member operatively connected to the emergency control, an operating connection from said first operating member to each of the two actuators, for substantially simultaneous operation of the latter, a second operating member operatively connected to the bomb release control, and differential means interconnecting each of the two operating members to said second actuator, for operation of the bomb rack release mechanism selectively by either operating member, and its associated control, and for operation of said first actuator to enable opening of the door only when the first operating member is actuated.

14. Bomb release means as in claim 13, wherein the coordinating drive transmitting unit includes interrupted gearing between the first operating member and its two actuators, the gearing to the second actuator holding the latter without movement until the first actuator has been moved to effect opening of the door.

15. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with three devices to be operated, namely, normal door-operating means, means to enable emergency opening of a door, and bomb rack release mechanismythree controls, namely, a normal door-operating control operatively connected to the normal dooroperating means, a normal bomb-release control, and an emergency control; and a coordinating transmission device including a first operating member connected for operation by the normal bomb-release control, a second operating member connected for operation by the emergency control, a first actuator connected for operation of the bomb rack release mechanism, a second actuator connected for operation of the means to enable emergency opening of the door, and means for transmission of an actuating impulse to the first actuator from either of the two operating members, and to the second actuator only from the second operating member.

16. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with three devices to be operated, namely, normal door-operating means, means to enable emergency opening of a door, and bomb rack release mechanism; three controls, namely, a normal door-operating control operatively connected to thenormal dooroperating means, a normal bomb-release control, and an emergency control; and. a coordinating transmission device including a first operating member connected for operation by the normal bomb-release control, a second operating member connected for operation by the emergency control, a, first actuator connected for operation of the bomb rack release mechanism, a second actuator connected for operation of the means to enable emergency opening of the door, means for transmission of an actuating impulse to the first actuator from either of the two operating members, and to the second actuator only from the second operating member, and differential gearing between the first actuator and the two operating members, to actuate said first actuator in accordance with whichever operating member is moved, and to maintain immovable the second actuator during movement of only the first oper-- ating member.

1'7. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with three devices to be operated, namely, normal door-operating means, means to enable emergency opening of a door, and bomb rack release mechanism; three controls, namely, a normal door-operating control operatively connected to the normal door-operating means, a normal bomb-release control, and an emergency control; and a coordinating transmission device including a first operating member connected for operation by the normal bombrelease control, a second operating member connected for operation by the emergency control, a first actuator connected for operation of the bomb rack release mechanism, a second actuator connected for operation of the means to enable emergency opening of the door, means for transmission of an actuating impulse to the first actuator from either of the two operating members, and to the second actuator only from the second operating member, and timing gears between the second operating member and the two actuators, to effect actuation first of thesecond actuator and immediately thereafter, of the first actuator.

18. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with three devices to'be operated, namely, normal door-operating means, means to enable emergency opening of a door, and

emergency opening of the door, means for transmission of an actuating impulse to the first actuator from either of the two operating members,

and to the second actuator only from the second operating member, differential gearing between the first actuator and the two operating members to actuate said first actuator in accordance with whichever operating member is moved, and to maintain immovable the second actuator during movement of only the first operating member, and timing gears between the second operator and the second actuator, on the one hand, and between the second operator and the difierential gearing on the other hand, to effect actuation by the second operator first of the second actuator to actuate the means to enable emergency opening of the door, and immediately thereafter of the first actuator through the difierential gearing to actuate the bomb rack release mechanism.

19. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with several devices to be operated, including bomb rack release mechanism and door-opening means, a like number of controls, including a normal door control, bomb release control, and emergency control, and drive transmitting means interconnecting the several controls and the several devices to be operated, including a first connection from said emergency control to a plurality of devices to be operated, including the bomb rack release mechanism and the door-opening means, and a second operative connection from said bomb release control to at least said bomb rack release mechanism, of such plurality of devices connected to said emergency control, said first and second operative connections including common differential means to transmit operating impulses from both said emergency and bomb release controls, one at a time, to said bomb rack release mechanism.

20. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with several devices to be operated, including bomb rack release mechanism and door-opening means, a like number of controls, including a normal door control, bomb release control, and emergency control, and drive transmitting means interconnecting the several controls and the several devices to be operated, including a first operative connection from said emergency control to a plurality of devices to be operated, including the bomb rack release mechanism and the door-opening means, and a second operative connection from said bomb release control to at least said bomb rack release mechanism, of such plurality of devices connected to said emergency control, said first and second operative connections including common differential means to transmit operating impulses from both said emergency and bomb release controls, one at a time, to said bomb rack release mechanism, and the interconnecting means further including timing means between said emergency control and a plurality of the devices to be operated to which it is connected, to efiect desired sequential at operation of such devices by said emergency control.

21. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with a bomb rack release mechanism, a bomb bay door, a jack fornormal operation of said door, and a releasable emergency door-release means normal-1y connecting the jack and the door; three controls, namely, a normal jack-operating control operatively connected to the jack, a normal bomb-release control, and an emergency control; and coordinating drive transmitting means interposed between said normal bomb-release control and said emergency control, on the one hand, and the emergency door-release means and the bomb rack release mechanism, on the other hand, said coordinating drive transmitting means including a connection between the emergency control and the emergency door-release means, and independently operable connections, one between the bomb rack release mechanism and the normal bomb-release control and another between said bomb rack release mechanism and the emergency control.

22. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with a bomb rack release mechanism, a bomb bay door, a jack ,for normal operation or" said door, and a releasable emergency door-release means normally connecting the jack and the door; three controls, namely, a normal jack-operating control operatively connected to the jack, a normal bomb-release control, and an emergency control; .and coordinating drive transmittin means interposed between said normal bomb-release control and said emergency control, on the one hand, and the emergency door-release means and the bomb rack release mechanism, on the other hand, said coordinating drive transmitting means including a connection between the emergency control and the emergency door-release means, and independently operable connections between the bomb rack release mechanism and each of the normal bombrelease control and the emergency control, incorporating a difierential m ans common to the normal bomb-release and the emergency control, .to eiiect actuation of the bomb rack release mechanism through such common difierential means by selective operation of the normal bomb-release control and the emergency control one at a time.

23. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft comprising, in combination with three devices to be operated, namely, normal door-operating means, emergency door-opening means, and bomb rack release means, three controls, namely, a normal door-operatin control, a normal bombrelease control, and an emergency control, and coordinating transmission means operatively interconnecting the several controls and the several devices to be operated, including means operatively connecting the emergency dooropening means only to the emergency control, and the normal door-operating means only to the normal door-operating control, and including also means providing a constant connection between the bomb rack release means and the normal bomb release control, and between the bomb rack release means and the emergency control, operable to transmit movement from either of said controls, alternatively.

24. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft comprising, in combination: a bomb rack lock shiftable from a normally locked position to a released position which permits the dropping of bombs; a bomb bay door biased to open; means to efiect controlled opening or closing of the 'movement of the bomb rack lock door; latch means operatively connecting the door opening and closing means to the door, but releasable at will to permit emergency open ing of the door; a normal bomb release control; a normal door control operatively connected to the door opening and closing means; and an emergency control; and transmission means mechanically interposed between the normal bomb release control and the bomb rack lock, and also between the emergency control and each of the door latch means and the bomb rack lock; said transmission means including difierential mechanism connected, respectively, between each of the normal bomb release control and the emergency control, and the bomb rack lock, whereby movement of either such control while the other is inactive will effect into released position; and said transmission means further including a direct connection between the emergency control and said door latch means, arranged for operation for release and consequent opening of the door in advance of the movement, through the emergency control, of the bomb rack look into released position.

25. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with bomb rack release mechanism and a bomb bay door, drive means normally operable through a predetermined period for opening said door, connecting means operatively connecting said drive means to said door and operable to release the door therefrom for opening of said door independently of movement of said drive means, a single emergency control operable to actuate said connecting means for release of said door, thereby to enable emergency and substantially immediate opening of the door, and connected to the bomb rack release mechanism and operable to effect bomb releasing operation thereof, and sequencedetermining means operatively interconnected between said connecting means and the bomb release mechanism, and operated by said single emergency control first to operate said connecting means for release of the door, and immedlately thereafter to effect bomb releasing operation of the bomb rack release mechanism.

26-. Bomb dropping mechanism for aircraft including, in combination with bomb rack release mechanism and a .bomb bay door, drive means normally operable through a predetermined period for opening said door, connecting means operatively connecting said drive means to said door and disengageable to enable said door to open independently of movement of said drive means, a single emergency control operable to disengage said connecting means to enable emergency and substantially immediate opening of the door, and connected to the bomb rack release mechanism and operable to effect bomb releasing operation thereof, and sequencedetermining means operatively interconnected between said connecting means and the bomb release mechanism, and operated by said single emergency control first to efiect disengagement of said connecting means thereby to enable opening of the door, and immediately thereafter to effect bomb releasing operation of the bomb rack release mechanism.

THOMAS DAVIS CASTOR. WILLIAM A. DILIMAN. WENDELL B. FEHRING. CHARLES HENRY STRANDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,636,519 Larsen July 19, 1927 1,846,514 Drake Feb. 23, 1932 1,890,142 Bollam Dec. 6, 1932 1,958,259 Becker May 8, 1934 1,964,188 Von Karabetz June 26, 1934 2,193,139 Monteith et a1 Mar. 12, 1940 2,196,368 Thomson Apr. 9, 1940 2,363,750 Schmued Nov. 28, 1944 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,507,767 May 16, 1950 THOMAS DAVIS OASTOR ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 14, line 45, after the hyphenated word bomb-release insert control; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Offiee. Signed and sealed this 15th day of August, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommz'ssz'oner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,507,767 May 16, 1950 THOMAS DAVIS OASTOR ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 14, line 45, after the hyphenated Word bombre1ease insert control;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice. Signed and sealed this 15th day of August, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Govrwmksz'oneaof Patents. 

